Marvel Rivals-Style Games We’d Like To See

Marvel Rivals has taken the world by storm. The hero shooter based on the popular comic book brand has garnered praise for its fun gameplay, unique mechanics, and interpretations of iconic comic book heroes and villains into an engaging experience. With every update, fans await to see what character will be coming next to the game.

However, another topic of discussion that has emerged is the possible adaptation of the game’s formula to other beloved IPs besides Marvel. Many companies are looking at the success of Marvel Rivals, and some may be inspired to bring their own characters into the mix. While there are many possibilities, a select few stand out as the most likely to find success with the genre.

10

PlayStation

An(other) All Star Battle Royale

Following the failure of hero shooter Concord in 2024, Sony could look towards more familiar faces to capitalize on the genre. The company has a large roster of characters who could star in its own video game. For example, God of War’s Kratos could use the various weapons he’s acquired over the course of several games, while Ratchet & Clank can fight with various gadgets and guns.

Like with PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale in 2012, Sony could also reach out to third-party studios to include their characters. Tomb Raider heroine Lara Croft, whose games were originally PlayStation exclusives, would be a solid fit, due to her massive arsenal of guns, whips, and other weapons, whereas Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy 7 can use his signature Buster Sword in addition to casting the series’ many spells.

9

Capcom

The Crossover Kings In a Brand New Style

Capcom is no stranger to the world of crossover video games, with their many successful fighting games being the most notable. However, its iconic line-up of characters could easily translate to other genres as well, and the hero shooter may be the perfect place to go. Street FIghter characters like Ryu and Chun-Li could mix up hand-to-hand combat with projectile attacks. Mega Man and his variants can have access to different variations of their arm cannon, while Zero can mix up between blasters and laser swords.

Other characters who could work well in the genre include Dante from Devil May Cry, characters from Resident Evil, or the protagonist of Monster Hunter. More cult-favorite characters like Viewtiful Joe, Amaterasu from Okami, and Phoenix Wright from Ace Attorney are also possible additions to such a game, as well as more old-school names like Strider Hiryu and Captain Commando.

8

Pokemon

You Now Gotta Beat Them All!

Outside the traditional RPG games the series is most associated with, Pokemon has experimented in different types of genres, from fighting games with Pokken Tournament to dungeon crawlers like the Mystery Dungeon games. A hero shooter could be a strong opportunity for another type of video game to tackle, especially with the many types of Pokemon easily translating into different gameplay styles, from healers like Chansey to close-combat fighters like Machamp to speedsters like Zeraora, often found in hero shooters.

Due to the mixed reception of Pokemon Unite, the series’ attempt at the closely related MOBA genre, Nintendo and the Pokemon Company may not want to try another massive multiplayer game so soon. However, if a hero shooter is ever greenlit, it could also provide the opportunity for Pokemon to start off on a new page when it comes to multiplayer experiences.

7

Star Trek

Who Will Live Longest and Prosper?

Star Wars has been one of the most successful IPs when it comes to video games based off of major licenses, and has already made its mark on the hero shooter genre with Star Wars: Hunters. Rival series Star Trek, on the other hand, has had a less fruitful experience in gaming. However, the success of Star Wars: Hunters could inspire Star Trek to get in on the action.

A Star Trek hero shooter can allow players to choose characters from classic shows, like Captains Kirk and Picard, or more recent characters like Captain Burnham from Discovery, as well as iconic villains like the Klingons. Aside from traditional on-the-ground combat, piloting spaceships could also be part of the gameplay.

6

Shonen Jump

The Japanese Rivals To Marvel

Shonen Jump’s crossover video games have mostly been various fighting games, so a hero shooter could be a fresh change of pace. The numerous anime and manga properties owned by the company could all be featured in a game, and are likely to provide tons of gameplay variety overall.

Shonen Jump characters have tons of variety in their gameplay, from Dragon Ball characters who are able to fly and shoot long-range ki attacks, to My Hero Academia whose abilities, or Quirks, usually center around close combat, to Light Yagami from Death Note who is all about psychological warfare. Another option for Shonen Jump would be to keep the focus on an individual anime or manga series that they own, which could help shine the spotlight on characters who normally wouldn’t get into a crossover game.

5

Mortal Kombat

A New Way to “Finish Them!”

Mortal Kombat has experimented heavily with other genres outside of fighting games in the past, and a hero shooter could be the logical next step for the series. Iconic characters like Scorpion, Sub-Zero, and Liu Kang and their violent tendencies would mesh well in a genre focused on trying to kill your opponents.

Mortal Kombat’s character line up ranges from brute-force powerhouses like Jax and Goro, to close-combat specialists like Johnny Cage and Liu Kang, to projectile-shooting zoners like Sub-Zero and Raiden. All could adapt well to the hero shooter genre if needed and provide a good balance of character archetypes. Plus, it’d be cool to see how the fatality system is implemented in a novel type of game.

4

Sonic The Hedgehog

Absolute Chaos, Like the Emeralds

Sonic the Hedgehog games have often balanced between speed, flight, and power characters in games like Sonic Heroes and the Riders series, so there’s already precedent for character archetypes that can be translated over to a hero shooter. But there’s more than just the three basic playstyles in a hero shooter, and a hero shooter could be the perfect opportunity for Sonic to expand to new gameplay styles.

For instance, big-bodied characters like Vector the Crocodile and Big the Cat could be slow but powerful tanks even stronger than Knuckles. Amy Rose, usually a speed character in games like Heroes, could be repurposed as a support or healer character. Shadow’s access to chaos powers and weapons could differentiate him from Sonic himself. Dr. Eggman could call upon various mechs and robots to attack opponents with.

3

Final Fantasy

Square Enix’s Icons Square Off

Final Fantasy is arguably the most successful role-playing game series of all time, and it has brought together hundreds of popular characters from 16 mainline entries. The Dissidia series proves that Final Fantasy can work as a crossover game between its various entries, and with the popularity of hero shooters on the rise, Square Enix could find tons of success in giving their signature property the Marvel Rivals treatment.

Just looking at the series’ most iconic entry alone, Final Fantasy 7 offers tons of character styles that could be adapted into the hero shooter gameplay. Protagonist Cloud and villain Sephiroth can fight from afar thanks to their spellcasting abilities and the long range of their swords. Tifa and Barrett would specialize in close combat, but the former would deliver quick strike combos while the latter deals out slower but more powerful blows. Aerith would excel as the team healer, as she did in her original game.

2

League Of Legends

Same Champions, New Arena

The multiplayer online battle arena, or MOBA, is a close cousin of the hero shooter, and League of Legends has been the standard-bearer of that genre for over a decade, so it would be natural for Riot Games to adapt its characters to a different gameplay style. League of Legends has seven types of champions, and there’s a lot of overlap between that and the hero types in Marvel Rivals.

For example, Vanguards in Marvel Rivals has similarities to Tanks in League of Legends, in that both are defensive character types that can absorb a lot of damage without dying. Similarly, Strategists are similar to Controllers, as both are support characters focused on healing and protecting allies. Finally, Duelists are the equivalent to offensive characters like Assassins, who are mainly responsible for dishing out damage to opposing players.

1

DC Comics

Marvel’s Rivals’ Marvel Rivals

There’s no more obvious name to take on Marvel Comics in the hero shooter realm than their longtime rivals at DC. Following the lead of Marvel Rivals would be a no-brainer and a much-needed win for the company.

All three of DC’s most iconic heroes could represent each of the three classes in Marvel Rivals: Superman can be a vanguard whose near-invincibility allows him to absorb tons of damage, Batman can be a duelist who can use his fists and weapons to take out opponents, and Wonder Woman can be a strategist who helps heal her teammates.

Like with Marvel Rivals, DC can both bring in the company’s most iconic heroes and villains and also explore some lesser-known parts of its universe, like Marvel did with Jeff the Land Shark and Lucy Snow. If DC characters who don’t get a lot of spotlight, like Solomon Grundy or Plastic Man, get more focus, it could help increase that character’s popularity in future media.